Christmas party on Mt. Elgon.

FUM News Blog

Uganda General Elections Raise Regional Concerns

As Ugandans went to the polls on 15 January 2026, the country stood at a historic crossroads, balancing four decades of continuous leadership against increasing demands for democratic openness, accountability, and peace. The recently concluded general elections, which included both presidential and parliamentary contests, have since attracted intense national, regional, and international attention. The elections re-elected 81-year-old President Yoweri Museveni with 71.65% of the vote from around 21 million voters, extending his rule to forty years. Uganda’s population is approximately 51 million, including an estimated 5,000 Quakers. While many citizens participated peacefully in the voting process, the wider electoral environment showed both promising signs and significant challenges.

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December—FUM Adds Advent Devotional to Downloadable Resources

The downloadable Advent devotional is one of a handful of online resources that we have that can be downloaded and copied for use and distribution by individuals and congregations. Other resources include our brochures on ministry fields and field staff; on the kinds of work we do; and our Quaker Life edition devoted to explaining FUM’s priorities, program staff, and programs. We are adding more downloadable resources, including videos, all the time.‍

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December—FUM African Office Moves to New Location

On 6–7 December, Friends United Meeting’s office in Kenya relocated to Kakamega from Kisumu. While this move was made because of a financial necessity to lower operational costs, it also provides strategic opportunities. For the past twenty-one years, the Reinsurance Plaza in Kisumu has been our administrative home. The office was originally established to serve our project partners and our member Yearly Meetings in Africa. The move to Kakamega brings us much closer to the communities we serve and support.

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December—Global Ministries Coordinator Karla Jay Visits Central America

Although Global Ministries Coordinator Karla Jay was traveling in partnership with FWCC as a translator, her visit fulfilled a long-standing request from Guatemala Holiness Yearly Meeting to begin a dialogue about the mutual benefits of becoming an FUM member body. For several years, FUM had attempted to make such a visit, but a series of obstacles—political instability leading to road blockages, and travel concerns—prevented it. In 2023, General Secretary Kelly Kellum was scheduled to travel to the country, but Guatemala’s political turmoil at that time led local leader Karen Gregorio to advise postponing the visit until conditions improved.

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November—Budget Explainer Available on Video

On Thursday, November 13, Friends United Meeting offered an in-depth explanation of the budget for the current fiscal year in an explanatory Zoom session. If you missed the session, or encountered technical difficulties, you can view it with the online ink provided.

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November—Response to Hurricane Melissa

Members of Friends United Meeting gathered online for prayer before Hurricane Melissa struck the Caribbean, and Friends in Jamaica and Cuba Yearly Meetings. FUM responses have included gathering and sending supplies, providing the Cascade area with satellite internet, or organizing work trips.

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